Automatic train-pipe connecter



June '7, 1927 J. ROBINSON AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNEGTER Original FiledApril 14, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 \NVENT R .mwi/

a June 7, 1927. J. ROBINSON 1 63 552 AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNECTER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 14. 1921 25 ulk 3. p

Patented June 7, 1927.;

" 1 uman [ST ATES PA NT or F ee;

' r A Josnmi noninson, onnnw Y K-1v, -Y,

' AnToMATm T AIN-F rs 'GONNEQTEB;

Applicatioirfiled April 14,1921, $eria1 No. 461,298,,- RenewedNYovember'3,i1925.; 1 i

A I lilydinvention irel'ates'toautomatic train pipe connecters and hasamongfits objects to provide a simple and efficient in'eansfor replacingdefective gaskets between the faces ofmated connecter headsi-whiletheca'rsequipped 1 therewith remain coupled. .Another objectuis to providemeans to per- 'mit ther connecter head and buflenspring to bereinovedfrom the bracket otthei autos matic connecter While thecarsremain coupled: andwithout: disassembling the spring with respect'tothe-head. l 1E attain these objects= by, and 'myinvention resides in thecombinations, arrangements and constructions hereinafter describechpointed' out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings'of which-z i v f 3 1 :Figure lxis' a side 'elevation'of anautomatic connecter provided with my improvement. r

j Figurefl is a side the coupling head-omitted; In this View the buflerspring is shown in the compressed position with the'key for locking itin such position, in pl-aces Figure 8 ,is a:SQCt101121l1P12111::VleW Ofmy improvedconnecter showing the buffer spring: in the:compressediposition and the key' a-foresaidin. place: Inythis View the,tie rod and pivot bar are shown in-theeposi- 'tion theyoccupy'when theconnecter' is ready to: be removed from the bracket. The coupling headis:omittediin this View. :Figure 4119 a sectional elevation on the line4-4: of Figur-e-:2. f a 1 Figure 5 is a: rear view onrsthelin'e 5 -5 ofFigure 2. wIn 'this view the qbufler spring and coupling head are Iomitted. The key hereinafter"described is shown in place-and Figure. 6is a side elevation of the key "used with myiin-zprovement, -j

Suitablyconnected to any desired-form of coupling head A I provide apipe or body= member B which]. preferably form" with laterally divergingnipple-or conduit:7 at itsnforward end, the nipple :bei'ng threaded at'8 to receive the couplinghead A and; at 9 to receive-the usual trainpipe hose =10;-Figure3, asrby a suitable fitting or union-11. 1Extending rearwardly'from, and ,preferably; formed integral With,- thenipple? I provide the body B with a pair of horizontally disposed strapsor members 121 andklSfspaced apart-one above the other hawn At h r a endthe t aps are elevation thereof with,

; tron 23'rest1ng1n theopenlng 1n the flange as; aforesaid. A PLVOL bEII2t,3having midsuitablyattached' to on terminate in a verticallyextendingflange or projectionirfl i perforated'at 15Figure 4l'and having-anannular seat- 16 for "a spring. JAttached to:

the usual; lug; 17' of the coupler-C, as by .bolts: 18, l provide'a-vbracket Dqthei'lower .end Of'Wl11Cl1"te1In111at(-S in Vertically eX-itendingprongscor sidewalls 19;.1and

forming-a" iorkfwhiclijspans 01* embraces I the. body or pipe B, asshownespecially; in I Figure 4.! Eachof the prongsis provided with abear1ng2 1: and 22 formed in a nearwardly extending projection- 23whichleads away from the rear facefof eachg ofthe prongs and into anopening at either side of the flange M as, shownespecially in Figures 1,3 and 5. This arrangement prevents excessive rotation ofthe couplinghead A i v about} its longitudinal-axis, the flange 14 being held, bythe springhereinaften described, normally in engagement with the rear;side ot the bracket D with its projecway; its end aj-seat 25,. ispivotally mounted in the bearings 21 and 22 and extends through .theopening 2.61 between the straps '12 and 13;. Extending from the rear'ofthe flange 114: through. the perforation 15 therein I provide a tie rodor pi-vot device 27'11aving through which the pivot. bar or block 24extendsand with which'it is pivotally connected; asashownespeciallvinFigures 3 'a 1 d-4. A sleeve or tubular member-29 havat i-ts't'orwardend a perforated headQZS -ing an annular seat- 30 loosely fltsover the a tie rod 27 and passesthrough the perforation -15 in theflange Ib l,,-the flange being adaptedtoslide relatively to this-sleeve.

an i1;icl1-- apart. Between the annular seats 16-and 30 of the flange 14and the sleeve; 29, 1-'esp.ectively,-- and seated thereon,-I; -pro-' 7vide a suitablyzformed.butler"spring E, and i upon the-rear threadedend32' of the 'tiei'od I threadingly mounta nutor abutment 33 having anelongated hollow; internally threade'dsha-nk 34 lying within theenlarged Jcylindrically formed rear end of the sleeve 29 -as shoWn.- Thenut forms anjadjustable abutment-for the sleeve and the spring: E,

and is provided with wings; adapted to be struck with a hammer orsimilar instrument to a j st th il t a ong the t e; FQFl 27 to vary'thecompression of the spring E or to entirelyielievesuch con'ipression, asdesired. The spring serves to PX'OJGCU the 7 coupling head and'yicldingly maintain ,it at the lim t of its forward movement with theflange 14 normally engaging the rear faceof'the bracket D. In thismanner the cou olin t head is ieldin 1 sustained in Inoperationithewings 37 of'the coupling the normal coupling oosition and is placed, ,WIJlI its gasket 36, on er the desired pressure when mating connectorscouple up in service.

I 'head' Afserve' to align the opposing heads 3 and bringtheirrespective gaskets '36 into register; Further movement of the coupling head will compress the springiE shifting'thebody B rearwardly alongsleeve 29 and thetie rod 27, and carry the flange 14 away f from therear face ofthe bracket.

, Thisfmovement releases the universal joint 7 brackets.

:formed by thebearings 21 and 22 in the bracket, and by the pivot bar 2l and its pivotal connection with the head 28. of'the tie rod 27,whereupon the mating connecters may move universally with respect totheir When it is desired to remove a defective gasket 36 from matedcoupling heads A without first uncoupling the cars, a

pin or key 38, or other suitable device, is in-' 7 serted into the bodyB at the rear end thereof and between two of the flanges 31. The keyisprovided with prongs 39' adapted to straddlethe sleeve'29 and liebetweenthe flanges 31 and 'against the inner face of-the seat 16 of thebody B, 'as shown particularly in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the body beingprovidedcvvith a groove or recess 40 to receive the prongs. The nut orabutment 33 is then backed off by striking the wings 35 thereof, or byapplying a'wrenoh thereto,

until the retractive action-of the spring E is arrested by contact ofthe key 38 with the inner face of the seat16as aforesaid. The nut isthen backed off the tie rod 27 a further extentsuflicient to permit thetie rod .to be shoved'forw'ard in the sleeve 29 until its perforatedhead 28 and the pivot bar 2a occupy the position shown'in Figure .3whereupon the entire connector may be ,j'dropped from the bracket I),the defective {plied b v retracing these operations.

construction comprehends means by which bracketreplaced, and theconnector reap- The the spring E isa'nchored' to the pipeo'r'body 'B andby which'the tie" rod' 27 the sleeve '29, and the nut. 33 are retainedin assembled relation during removal iof, the connecter I from the"bracket D mand its replacement jthereon. V V a y In event the key 38becomes lost and a substitute therefor is not available, the removal ofa defective gasket is accomplished by relieving the spring E on themated coni nectel's, 0 its Compression Whacking the nut 33 rearward-1yQlljllllG threaded portion ofthe tierod 27. In this manner the tie 7 rodis relieved of tension and may be shifted.

forward as above described, and its head28 and the gas bar 241-disconnected from the bracket 7 will reassemble these parts. It will beobservedthat the resistance of the spring E 'mamtains the pivot bar2l inits bearings 21 and 22, and the tie rod27 in its seat25 on the pivotbar. V v r What I claim is: 1 I a 1. In an automatic train pipeconnecter,

,The reverse of this operation.

the combination with a car coupler, of a coupling headand a support forsuspending the head lrom said coupler, said support eomp'rlslnga bracketand a spring, and

means'to permit said coupling head to be disconnected from a matingheadwhile said coupler remains coupledvto av companion coupler, said meanscomprising a member extending from the rear of said head through saidbracket and carrying a perforated projection, a device extending intoopening and supported on said bracket, a

device extending from said bracket through said spring, apart adjustably-mounted on said device and having abutting relation to the spring, andmeans 'toanchor said part to said member to free said device of thepressure of said spring. 1 V I 3. In an automatic trainpipe connecter,the combination with a coupling head, of a bracketand a springsuspending the head from a car, and means to permit'said, head to. bedisconnected from a mating ,head

while the cars remain coupled, said'means comprising a member extendingfrom sald head past said bracket into engagement with said spring, auniversal joint pivotally mounted on sald bracket on opposite sides of'sa'id niember and comprising a device which extends into saidspring,-andf means engaging said device and said member to lock saidspring under compression whereby said bracket-is freed from thepressure- 0 said spring, for, the purpose described.

4. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the comblnation of a couplinghead, asupport' for suspending'the head from a car, said supportcomprising a spring and a bracket forked at it'svloiverend, and means topermit said head to be disconnected from a mating headivhile the carsremain coupled, said' means CORIPIISIIIg-"a member extending from said Ihead into the "fork of .said bracket and provided with an opening, apivot device supported in the fork of said bracket, an abutmentfor saidspring; andimeans for anchoring sai'd abutnent to said member to relievesaid device of the pressure ofsaid'sprin 5. In an automatic train pipeconnecter,

the combination of a coupling head provided Wlthtt rearivardly extendingmember having an opening therethrough, a bracket for suspending saidheadfrom the car coupler, said bracket having a forked portion "which spanssaid member,-a spring support- 'ed' on" said member, and means; topermit said head to be disc'onnected from a mating head While the carsremain coupled, said means-compris ng;a' device pivotallysupportedby'the forked portion of said bracket and extending into said spring, apart. proec-tin'g into the opening in said member,

and means to anchor said part to said nember'fto' arrest the retractive'action of said spring While efiectingsuch disconnection. 6. In anautomatic train pipe conneoter,

the combination With a car coupler, of a 1 coupling head and a supportfor suspending the head from said coupler, said support com irisin a srin and abracket'havin 23 b I b "an openingtherethrough, amem'berextending from. said head through the opening in said bracket andhavinga radially extend-v ingprojection, a device pivotally supported onsaid'brack'et on opposite sides of "the opening therein, a springsurrounding said device and engaging said member, a sleeve extendinginto the spring and said member and havingsupporting relation to thespring, a pro ection on said sleeve, and 0 means engaging said proection to anchor" the sleeve to said member to relieve said device ofthe pressure of said spring, for

the purpose described.

tending into the perforation in said mem-' her and pivotally supportedon said bracket,

aii abutment for said spring extending into said perforation andsurrounding said device, and'means to anchor the abutment to said memberto arrest the retractive action oi:' said spring whereby said pivot'device may be disconnected from said bracket.

8. In an automatic train pipe connecter,

the combination of a, coupling head, a bracket having an opening at itslower end, a member extending from said head, through T said members tobe said opening and having a projection, a

i spring for extending 'said head with said projection normally engagingthe rear side or said bracket, 'means for anchoring said spring to saidbracket"comprising a. pin-- rality' of members pivotally supported: onthe bracket, andmeans for arresting the retractiveaction of said springto permit bracket. v V

9. In an-autom'atic train pipe coiinectei',

the combination of a coupling head, a support therefor comprising abracket having anopening-I therethrougli, va member extending .trom sa dhead through said opening,

means for permitting 1 universal movement to said'liead comprising a;plurality'of 1111X1- beis p votally' supported on said bracket, a]

spring for extending said'head and member,

1 said spring being normally under gcompr'ession, an anchordeviceengaging said member a'ndal'ong which the member isadapted nor-, mallyto move against the resistance of said. spring, and means to preventsaid mem the" member may i be removed from said removed from saidoermoving along said anchor device \vhe'i'ebyf bracket with said springunder compression. 10. In an automatic-train pipeconnecter,

the combination of a coupling head, a per? i'Oll't'Cl memberf extendingfrearwardly from said head and provided With a prolectron. a-

said' member and provided-with oppositely through said perforation intosaid bearings,

bracket having a forked lower end spanning disposed bea rings, a pivotblock extending a device 'pivotally mountedon'said pivot block andextending to the rear of said pro jectio'n, an-abutment adjustably'mounted upon the rear ,end of saiddevice, a spring betwee'ii said'abutment and said member for pro ecting said coupling head With-sa d proection normally engaging said bracket, a part abutting said spring andextending into theperforat'ion' in said member, and

means co-operating i vitl'ivsaid partto arrest the .ret-ractive actionof saidspring. y

' 11: In an automatic train pipe eonnecter, the combination of a-'COi1pliI1g head, a meniber extending rear'Wardly therefrom and la-vinga projection, a bracket embracing saidmeinber and against whichsaid projectioiris adapted normally to rest, a spring seated on. therear end of said member and acting to extend the member and said head,

a device pivotally supported on said, bracket and projecting from Withinsaid member rearwardly past SE11Clp101B0tl0II, a sleeve surrounding saiddevice and anchored to one end of said spring, said sleevefbeing pro.vided with a flanged end extending into said member, and means engagingsaid flanged end and said member to arrest the retractive action of saidspring. i

12.. In an automatictrain pipe connecter,

t emb aet n a C up head, a mm her-extending 'rearwardly therefrom, a

bracket" spanning-said member, a spring seated at its forward end onsald member,

a part extending into said spring and having a shoulder engaging therearend of sald spring, saidr part being provided with a flanged forwardendextending into said member, means to lock said flangedend to themember, a device pivotally: supported on said bracket and extendingrearwardly therefrom into said part. andsaid spring, and an abutmentengaging said part and 1 (Jo-operating with said device to .anchor saidspr1ng to sa1d bracket, said abutment b6111 threadingly connected tosaid device.

V 13. Inangautomatic train pipe connector,

,the combination of a coupling head, a member extending rearwardlytherefrom and having a perforated projection, a bracket spanning saidmember and against which sa1dpro ect1on '15 adapted normally to rest,

7 a tie rod pivotally supported on said bracket 7 1 described.

for permitting universal movement to said head a sleeve surroundin saidtie rod and V 9 V V b having a rad ally extending flange lying in saidperforation, and a device'inserted be tween saidflange and said memberto lock the spring to the member for the purpose ,14. In an automatictrain pipe connecter, the combination of a coupling head, a memberextending rearwardly therefrom, a bracket embracing saidmember andhaving a bearing, a device pivotally supported on said bearing, an"abutment connected with said dev1ce, a spring confined between saidabutment and saidmember and for support ing said head and formaintaining said de- 7 'v icein said bearing, and means for arrestingthe retractive action of said spring to permit said device to beextractedfrom sald bearing.

15. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a'couplinghead, a mem ber extending rearwardly therefrom and provided witha seat,a bracket spanning sald member, a tubnlar device extending into saidmember from the rear thereof and I having a shoulder, a springinterposed between said. seat and said shoulder and surroundingsaid'tubular device, means to permit universal 'movement tosa1d couplingsignature.

ly pastsaid bracket, a flange-on 'saidlmemher, a tie rod pivotallyconnected to said cured to said head and extending rearwardbracket andextending'rearwardly thereof,

a spring surrounding saidtie rod and nor mally pressing against sa dflange to force the same toward said bracket, and means associated withsaid tie rod for relieving the pressure, of said spring against saidflange while -maintaining the spring under compression. a

17. In an automatictrain pipe connecter,

a bracket, a couplinghead, amember secured to said head andextendmgrearwardly past said bracket, a flange on said 1nemher, a tierod pivotally connected-to said bracket, and extending rearwardlythereof,

a coiled spring surrounding said tie rod and normally pressing'at oneend against said flange, sald t e rod serving normally to resist therearward thrust of said spring, and

spring while maintaining the spring under compression. V w 1 1 .1

18. In an automatic train pipe connecter, a bracket, a coupling head,aimember secured to said head and extending rearwardly pastsaid-bracket, a flangevon saidmemmeans associated with said tie rod forre lievinfg Sadd e 1B rod from the thrust of. said her, a tie rodvpivota-llyconnected to said bracket, and extending rearwardly thereof,

:a coiled spring surrounding said tie rod and normally pressingatone-end against said flange, said tie rod serving normally to resistthe rearward thrust of said spring, and

means associated with said tie rod for relieving said tie rod and saidflange from the thrust of said spring while maintaining the spring undercompression.

In testnnony WhereofI hereuntoi'aflix my f JOSEPH ROBINSON.

